How does Matthews's water compare to the national average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Matthews (≈ 0–59 mg/L) is 121 mg/L softer than average.

Matthews Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

soft

~0–59 mg/L

Soft

estimated · not lab-verified

Source

reservoir

pH Level

8.1

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.008 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

383.8 mg/L

Est. Daily Cost

$0.08

energy & soap waste

Source: See methodology section below · Updated 2026

soft~0–59 mg/LSoft · est.

0–60

mg/L

Soft

61–120

mg/L

Moderately Hard

121–180

mg/L

Hard

180+

mg/L

Very Hard

Appliance Damage Report

In Matthews, your appliances are currently losing 4% efficiency due to mineral buildup.

Appliance	In Matthews	Soft Water City	Efficiency Loss
Kettle	8.2 yrs	8.5 yrs	-4%
Washing Machine	11.5 yrs	12 yrs	-4%
Water Heater	14.4 yrs	15 yrs	-4%

Regional Water Comparison

How Matthews compares to its nearest neighbours

City	Hardness	PFAS (ppt)	Risk	Source
▶ Matthews, North Carolina	≈ 0–59 mg/L	8.1 ppt	🟢 Soft	reservoir
Stallings, North Carolina	≈ 120–179 mg/L	6.7 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir
Indian Trail, North Carolina	≈ 0–60 mg/L	7 ppt	🟢 Soft	reservoir
Mint Hill, North Carolina	≈ 0–60 mg/L	5.5 ppt	🟢 Soft	reservoir
Weddington, North Carolina	≈ 120–179 mg/L	5.8 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir

National Benchmark

How Matthews compares to the USA average

Benchmark	Hardness	Appliance Risk
▶ Matthews	≈ 0–59 mg/L	🟢 None
USA National Avg	151 mg/L	🟠 Moderate
Scarsdale Top Rated	0.02 mg/L	🟢 None

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What Makes Matthews's Water Unique?

Local geology and source profile

Source: ReservoirTDS: 383.8 mg/LpH: 8.1

Matthews, North Carolina is served by the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Utility Department (CMUD), which supplies water from Mountain Island Lake and Lake Norman reservoirs in the Catawba-Wateree River Basin. Treatment occurs at the Mountain Island Treatment Plant and McAlpine Treatment Plant, collectively serving over 1.5 million people across Mecklenburg County and surrounding areas including the Town of Matthews in Union County.

The Catawba-Wateree River Basin lies within the Piedmont region, underlain by ancient metamorphic and igneous rocks spanning the Paleozoic to Precambrian eras — including gneiss, schist, and Triassic diabase. No major carbonate aquifers such as limestone are present; instead, the basin depends on surface runoff from forested and urbanized watersheds. This geology imparts a naturally soft character to the water supply, with low dissolved minerals acquired during reservoir storage and minimal rock contact.

As a soft water supply, Matthews experiences minimal scaling on fixtures, pipes, or appliances such as water heaters, dishwashers, and washing machines. Soap lathers easily without excess product, and no significant buildup affects laundry or causes skin dryness. A water softener is not recommended and could unnecessarily strip beneficial minerals. Treatment follows conventional processes — coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, and chlorine disinfection — and the utility meets all health guidelines.

Geology & Source: Catawba-Wateree River Basin; Triassic diabase intrusives and metavolcanic rocks of the Charlotte Belt overlain by Quaternary sediments — no carbonate formations; crystalline igneous and metamorphic bedrock produces naturally soft water

Other North Carolina Water Reports

Stallings

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Indian Trail

≈ 0–60 mg/L

🟢 Soft

Mint Hill

≈ 0–60 mg/L

🟢 Soft

Weddington

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

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Notice an error or missing data? Help us keep this page accurate. If you spot incorrect water hardness, outdated utility info, or missing details, please let us know.

All reports are reviewed by our team. Thank you for supporting data quality!

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Matthews's water safe to drink?

Yes. Matthews's water meets all federal safety standards. The hardness is ≈ 0–59 mg/L (Soft), which is safe to drink. High hardness affects appliances and taste, but poses no health risk.

Do I need a water softener in Matthews?

Matthews's water is soft at ≈ 0–59 mg/L. A water softener is generally not necessary, though a carbon filter can improve taste and remove any remaining chlorine.

How does Matthews compare to the USA average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Matthews (≈ 0–59 mg/L) is 121 mg/L below the national average. The softest major city is Scarsdale at just 0.02 mg/L.

Data Sources & Methodology

Water quality data for Matthews is derived from geographic and geological modelling of the surrounding region. No federal monitoring station data was available for this location.

Estimated

Water Hardness

Modelled estimate based on state-level USGS geological survey data for this region. No direct USGS Water Quality Portal measurement was matched to this city — the value reflects a statistical range calibrated to the state's dominant rock types and typical source water characteristics.

Estimated

Estimated from regional geology and source water characteristics. pH is correlated with water hardness and local bedrock — values may differ from utility-reported figures.

Estimated

TDS — Total Dissolved Solids

Estimated using a derived ratio from water hardness and regional conductance profiles. TDS in natural water correlates strongly with total mineral content including hardness ions.

Measured

PFAS — Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances

EPA UCMR5 (5th Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, 2023–2025) — sum of PFAS compounds detected at the public water system serving this city. A value of 0 indicates the system was sampled with no detection above reporting limits.

Modelled

Lead

Modelled estimate based on the EPA Lead and Copper Rule 90th-percentile tap-sample methodology. No publicly available per-city lead dataset with sufficient national coverage exists. Values are a conservative baseline derived from city population tier and infrastructure age — all estimates are maintained below the EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L.

Calculated

Appliance Lifespan

Calculated from water hardness using a linear degradation model. Baseline lifespans represent soft-water performance (kettle: 8.5 yrs, washing machine: 12.0 yrs, water heater: 15.0 yrs). Hard water mineral scale progressively reduces operational life in direct proportion to hardness concentration.